Flagler County, long one of the most environmentally friendly areas in Florida with tranquil waterways and 19 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach, has been "discovered."

In recent years, fueled by the development of the planned community of Palm Coast, Flagler has become one of the fastest growing counties in the United States.

But there also has been a dramatic surge in construction of magnificient estates and luxury condos in exclusive gated ocean-front communities along a stretch of coast known as The Hammock.

At the southern end of Flagler County is the city of Flagler Beach, which still offers a laid back "beach atmosphere" reminiscent of an earlier era.

But with private jets bringing wealthy sun-seekers to the Flagler County airport off state road 100, the area is rapidly changing.

Palm Coast :

The city of Palm Coast, originally established in the late 1960s as a planned retirement community, today has a population of more than 40,000 residents and covers an area of 50 square miles west of the Intracoastal Waterway.

While most of the homes in Palm Coast are moderately priced, some of the waterfront homes on canals or directly on the Intracoastal fall easily into the luxury category, commanding spectacular views and offering boaters easy ocean access.

The Hammock:

To the east of Palm Coast, nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, are a group of gated communities known collectively as the Hammock

.These include Hammock Dunes, Island Estates, Ocean Hammock, Hammock Beach, and Cinnamon Beach.

Some of the most magnificient homes and luxury condos in these neighborhoods overlook a two-and-a-half mile stretch of ocean beach, or front on the Intracoastal Waterway. Other premier properties are sited along championship golf courses, or overlook lakes and nature preserves.

Flagler Beach:

Flagler Beach is no longer the sleepy fishing village it was only a relatively few years ago, but it still retains much of its "old Florida" charm.

The center of town remains a step back in time, with anglers trying their luck from the Flagler Beach Municipal Pier and locally owned restaurants offering fresh seafood at amazingly low prices.

Boasting six miles of beautiful Atlantic beaches and bordered on the west by the Intracoastal Waterway, Flagler Beach offers a variety of choices for visitors seeking to purchase waterfront property. And while real estate prices are rising, they remain a bargain compared to many other parts of Florida.